The college of foods and natural resources at Umass Amherst has a great extension office with an informative website

Infestation is in oak trees. Better pictures with scale, the larva are now dead so slightly stretched. Seem way too small to be ALB, max size is 15mm where ALB are 30-40mm (annotated pic). They do not burrow into the center but are restricted to the immediate layer right under the bark, where all the live parts of the tree reside.

Thanks, e-mail and pics sent to agent. I'll keep you informed.

Response back already from UMass Amherst: "It appears to be a round-headed borer larva, which is the immature stage for the longhorned beetles. There are more than 1000 species of these in North America and the vast majority require a previously weakened tree to be able to attack. Being an oak tree, it is highly unlikely that it is Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). As far as I know, ALB has never been found attacking oaks anywhere. The fact that these are in the oak suggests that the tree(s) is in a weakened condition from such possible causes as: extended drought (unlikely), soil compaction, successive years of defoliation from such insects as winter moth , gypsy moth, forest tent caterpillar, etc. or other reasons. If the areas of attack on the trunk is in the buttress roots at ground level, then it possibly could be a tilehorned beetle which can attack healthier trees but is not all that common. Otherwise, have the tree inspected for signs of previous stresses. These wood borers are rarely the first problem that a tree has but often they are the last because they are what finally kills the tree."

Just curious, my lillies have no infestation this year. I did spot a couple beetles a few weeks back but the plants are growing and healthy. Anyone having troubles?

Another topic: I'm seeing more dragon flies than ever around my area, any thoughts why? Maybe that is why no Asian Red Lilly-leaf Beetles?